In a setback to DLF, the COMPAT today upheld penalty on realty major for unfair business practices.

In a setback to DLF, the Competition Appellate Tribunal today upheld the CCI order imposing Rs 630 crore penalty on the realty major for unfair business practices.

In August 2011, the Competition Commission of India had found DLF violating fair trade norms and imposed a fine of Rs 630 crore on it following a complaint by a Belaire Owners’ Association in Gurgaon.

During the hearing today, the tribunal upheld CCI decision to impose Rs 630 crore fine on DLF. It had challenged the fair trade watchdog’s order at the tribunal, Compat.

In its order, CCI had asked DLF to cease and desist from formulating and imposing unfair conditions in its agreements with buyers in Gurgaon. The realty firm was also directed to suitably modify unfair conditions imposed on its buyers.

It was in May 2010 that the buyer’s association had complained against DLF.

The association had alleged that DLF “imposed highly arbitrary, unfair and unreasonable conditions on the apartment allottees of the Housing Complex The Belaire, which has serious adverse effects and ramifications on the rights of the allottees”.